We will never forget the feeling on the morning of April 9, 2025. We were setting up for our very first CorpsAfrica/Ethiopia Pitch and Launch Day in Addis Ababa. The banners were up, the Volunteers were nervous but excited, and there was a real buzz in the air. Just a few months earlier, we were a brand-new office, working hard behind the scenes. Now, we were about to show the world what our Volunteers could do. Before this day, many people didn’t know about CorpsAfrica/Ethiopia. Our Volunteers were quietly leading change in rural communities, but they needed a platform — a chance to be seen and heard. That’s why CorpsAfrica’s Project Pitch Day model was the perfect moment for us. Inspired by the popular “Shark Tank” approach, Project Pitch Day is designed to give Volunteers a chance to introduce themselves, share their community-led projects, and request additional funding and support from partners and stakeholders.
6 Volunteers, full of hope and determination, took the stage, and each one left a mark on the hearts of everyone there. Blen spoke from deep within her heart about what service through CorpsAfrica has meant to her. She shared how volunteering transformed her life personally and professionally, even helping her get accepted into a graduate program. But beyond her own growth, Blen’s passion was clear when she spoke about the communities she served—their strength, their dreams, and how working side by side with them changed her forever. Then Betty and Meron stood proudly together and presented their completed community projects, showing what true, sustainable impact looks like. They spoke about how their work created opportunities, strengthened their communities, and brought lasting change. Their reflections were full of pride, proving that when local people lead their own development, amazing things happen. Surafel and Yalelet energized the room when they pitched their current projects. They explained what they had already accomplished, how much more was needed, and what kind of deep impact their projects will have when completed. Their energy and honesty reminded everyone in the room that investing in young leaders is investing in a better future for Ethiopia. And Lilian, our Exchange Volunteer from Rwanda, offered a powerful reflection on her service experience in Ethiopia. She spoke about the strength of the Pan-African spirit—the idea that service knows no borders—and how living and working in Ethiopia opened her eyes to new ways of building unity, resilience, and hope.
The impact was immediate. We invited more than 180 people across the two events in Addis Ababa and Arba Minch. In the end, around 60 guests attended each event, and together with our staff and Volunteers, we had over 100 people participating overall. Development partners, government officials, and business owners — they didn’t just listen, they acted. The Gamo Development Association offered to fund future projects and donate venues. A local restaurant owner promised to cater our next event for free. Vita, one of the attending NGOs, is also committed to supporting Volunteers by helping transport project materials to their sites, minimizing transportation costs, and making implementation easier. Others offered technical support, donations, and partnership ideas. Media coverage from OBN TV and Gamo TV helped us spread the word even further. But more than the money raised or the promises made, what stayed with us was the energy—the belief that young people can lead, can change, and can inspire a better future. One guest said, “This was such a refreshing program to attend. CorpsAfrica/Ethiopia is doing amazing work that truly inspires hope.” And that’s exactly what we wanted: to inspire hope and action.
That day, we didn’t just launch an office.
We launched a movement.
